Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kanglung Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kanglung

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $98.5 in Kanglung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $162 in Kanglung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $226 in Kanglung.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 1216% more expensive than Kanglung, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Kanglung 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.17

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$0.51 BTN 43.13

270.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$1.17 BTN 99.2

114.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$2.14 BTN 181

289.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$2.26 BTN 191

269.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$2.25 BTN 190

376.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$2.22 BTN 187

17.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

$2.18 BTN 184

-33.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

$2.19 BTN 185

-13.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

$1.15 BTN 97.1

80.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$1.03 BTN 86.9

0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$0.99 BTN 83.2

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$1.42 BTN 120

20.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

$0.98 BTN 82.9

163.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$524.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$406.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,436

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$385

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,480

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kanglung: May 31, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Playa del Carmen vs Kanglung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Kanglung differ by about 1216% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $98.5 including rent). Kanglung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $148 in Kanglung to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 154% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $98.5 in Kanglung – a 1216% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $98.5 in Kanglung versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kanglung but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kanglung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kanglung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1216% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.